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PQShield expands boardroom, accelerating momentum into 2025

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PQShield, the leading cybersecurity company developing post-quantum cryptography, has appointed Antonio J. Viana to its board of directors, alongside adding Mike Muller, Rose Schooler and Ian Drew to its strategic advisory board.Janssen Liston also progresses to Vice President of Sales globally, having driven significant growth for PQShield in North America.The appointments follow PQShield’s $37M Series B funding earlier in 2024, and the recent release of NIST’s finalized PQC standards, which is helping to fuel global demand for PQShield’s quantum-proof technology.

LONDON, Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — PQShield, the leading provider of post-quantum cryptography (PQC), has announced Antonio J. Viana (BrainChip, Arteris, Parsley, former Arm executive) is joining the board as Non-Executive Director, alongside three new additions to its strategic advisory board to accelerate growth into 2025. The new advisors are Mike Muller (co-founder and former CTO, Arm), Rose Schooler (former CVP, Intel, and current Arm board member), and Ian Drew (former chairman at Foundries.io, and CMO at Arm). The expansion of PQShield’s boardroom overall supports its aims for global commercial growth in 2025 and beyond, following a $37M Series B earlier this year.

PQShield has expanded rapidly as demand for its quantum-ready cryptographic solutions has risen globally. In August 2024, the publication of NIST’s final standards for post-quantum cryptography – all three of which were co-authored by the team at PQShield – fired the starting gun on the global transition to PQC, with regulators already issuing guidance and timelines for industries to complete the process. The NSA has mandated that all owners and operators of National Security Systems and related assets adopt PQC for software and firmware signing by 2025, and NIST has committed to deprecating existing schemes like RSA and ECC from 2030, ahead of a global backstop for the adoption of PQC by 2035.

The transition to PQC is set to accelerate in 2025, with industry bodies anticipated to release their own guidance for deploying the new cryptographic standards. Meanwhile, critical sectors like networking and semiconductors are already adopting NIST’s standards. In June 2024, after years of working with NIST and advising government agencies in the UK, US, and Europe on the adoption of PQC, PQShield raised a $37M Series B to expand operations as it supports this growing global demand for PQC.

The appointees

The expansion of PQShield’s boardroom re-affirms its commitment to providing NIST-compliant, real-world PQC solutions across the global technology supply chain, and adds significant experience to the company as it continues to scale commercially.

The new team members – Antonio J. Viana, Mike Muller, Rose Schooler, and Ian Drew – have deep experience in the technology industry, working in sectors that will be critical to the successful global adoption of post-quantum cryptography. Bringing considerable expertise in semiconductors, Viana, Muller, Schooler, and Drew will support PQShield’s expansion in a sector that is crucial to the adoption of PQC, following PQShield’s existing advances in protecting hardware from the quantum threat through partnerships with the likes of  Microchip Technologies, AMD and Lattice Semiconductor, amongst others.

The appointments also follow PQShield’s recent announcement that it has developed the world’s first NIST-compliant PQC silicon test chip, enabling it to test the security of PQC hardware to an extremely robust level.

Separately, PQShield has promoted Janssen Liston to Vice President of Global Sales. Having driven significant growth for the company in North America, Liston will now take on an expanded role with responsibility for global sales teams.

Since raising its Series B earlier this year, PQShield has also added partners and customers in other crucial sectors including networking, aerospace, and financial services.

Antonio J. Viana, non-executive director at PQShield, says: “PQShield has been building a best-in-market solution that many industries will soon realize it needs. Now that NIST’s standards are finalized, PQShield is the company best placed to meet the global demand for PQC. I’m excited to join the board to help PQShield establish itself as the industry-standard post-quantum product over the coming years.”

Mike Muller, founder and former CTO of Arm, said: “PQShield is building a cutting-edge solution for one of the most pressing technical challenges of the next decade, and is already able to scale this solution to protect vectors from microcontrollers all the way to cloud computing. In an emerging industry, it’s exciting to start working with a company that is already completely customer-focused.”

Rose Schooler, board member at Arm and Densify, and Zurn Elkay Water Solutions said: “Over my 35 years in the tech industry, I’ve been fortunate to work with exceptional talent and groundbreaking technology. PQShield stands out with its world-class team and cutting-edge, standards-based solutions designed to address some of the most complex customer challenges. I’m excited to collaborate with the PQShield team to scale its solutions broadly, enabling a seamless cryptographic transition across multiple industries.”

Ian Drew, former chairman at Foundries.io and former CMO of Arm, said: “”Ali and the team at PQShield have assembled a world leading, British-based tech company that has the potential to make huge strides in cybersecurity and lead the post-quantum cryptography world.”

Ali El Kaafarani, founder and CEO of PQShield, said: “I am delighted to add four industry veterans to the PQShield boardroom. Each brings a wealth of experience in scaling businesses, and joins the company as we enter a pivotal period of growth. I look forward to working with Antonio, Mike, Rose and Ian as we expand PQShield’s commercial footprint in the wake of the new NIST standards.”

About PQShield:

PQShield is a post-quantum cryptography (PQC) company building the quantum-safe cryptography solutions that are modernizing the vital security systems and components of the global technology supply chain. We deliver real-world, high-quality secure implementations of quantum-safe cryptography in hardware, software and the cloud, as well as being a leading contributor to post-quantum cryptography standardization projects around the world.

Headquartered in the UK, with a 70 strong team across 10 countries, PQShield’s contribution has been recognised by Bloomberg, Wired, Fast Company and the World Economic Forum. The company is backed by Addition, Oxford Science Enterprises, Chevron Technology Ventures, Legal & General, Braavos Capital, Kindred Capital, Crane and Innovate UK. Its extensive catalog of technical publications is available here.

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ScienceOra Demonstrates AI-Assisted Hydrogen-Production Catalyst Design Workflow at Tencent Global Digital Ecosystem Summit

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The workflow spans literature analysis, candidate design, experimental planning and industrial decision support, extending AI4S into materials research

SHENZHEN, China, Oct. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Wenge AI demonstrated an AI-assisted hydrogen-production catalyst design workflow supported by ScienceOra at the 2026 Tencent Global Digital Ecosystem Summit. The demonstration showed how AI for Science (AI4S) can connect literature analysis, catalyst candidate design, experimental planning and industrial decision support, helping materials researchers translate scientific evidence into actionable research plans.

ScienceOra is Wenge AI’s intelligent research decision platform, built on the ScienceOne Scientific Foundation Model. For specialist research tasks such as materials development, the platform brings together scientific models, professional literature, research data and tools to support information access, research-plan development and scientific decision-making.

From literature analysis to catalyst candidate design

The demonstration focused on the design of a high-entropy alloy catalyst for the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction. To address the need for high activity and durability, ScienceOra searched professional literature and drew on published research methods and elemental properties to support the development of candidate designs. It also cross-checked optimization proposals against relevant literature, providing researchers with references that could be reviewed and verified.

Rather than simply generating material formulations, the workflow connects documentary evidence, materials knowledge and specific design objectives to support more targeted analysis of candidate solutions. Researchers remain responsible for assessing scientific validity and determining subsequent research directions.

From experimental planning to industrial decision support

For experimental planning, ScienceOra can assist in developing research protocols around candidate designs, helping researchers organize experimental variables and producing testing standard operating procedures (SOPs) and related reference information for subsequent validation.

For industrial applications, the platform can also support comparative analysis across dimensions such as the feasibility of scaled hydrogen production, performance at industrially relevant current densities, durability, raw-material availability and compatibility with mass-production synthesis processes. It can then assist in establishing decision priorities, screening criteria and process-improvement recommendations.

Candidate designs, experimental plans, process recommendations and references can be consolidated into a structured research report, helping R&D teams assess scientific evidence alongside engineering constraints. AI provides analytical and decision support, while experimental testing and scientific validation remain essential parts of materials research.

Previously disclosed collaboration reports design efficiency and activity improvements

In a previously disclosed industry–research collaboration on hydrogen-production catalyst design, ScienceOra supported literature analysis and research-plan development. The collaboration reported a 38% improvement in catalyst activity and reduced the design stage from several months to 30 minutes. The case illustrates the potential of domain-specific AI to connect scientific literature, research design and engineering requirements.

ScienceOra was recently made available on Tencent WorkBuddy, with an initial offering of more than 30 research expert agents and skills covering literature analysis, research hypotheses, plan design, modeling and simulation, validation analysis and research communication. The conference demonstration further illustrated how ScienceOra can be applied to specialist materials research, as AI4S moves beyond general information processing toward support for research workflows and industrial R&D decision-making.

For more information, visit https://www.scienceone.ai/portal/.

About Wenge AI

Wenge AI (1956.HK) is a provider of artificial intelligence technology and service platform products for enterprises. With self-developed large models as its core, the company helps enterprises build practical intelligent platforms and applications. Founded by a team of AI scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenge AI has deep technological expertise in large models, cognitive intelligence and complex-system modeling, and is committed to advancing AI from technological capabilities to enterprise-level applications.

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SOURCE Wenge AI

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Cake Digital Bank Wins Gold at Qorus-Infosys Finacle Banking Innovation Awards 2026

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ROME, Oct. 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Cake Digital Bank, a digital-only bank from Vietnam, has won Gold at the Qorus-Infosys Finacle Banking Innovation Awards 2026 for its initiative, “Reinventing Financial Experiences Through an AI-First Banking Model.” Cake was the only financial institution from Vietnam recognized at this year’s awards.

The winners were celebrated in Rome, Italy, during Infosys Finacle Conclave 2026. The 13th edition of the awards attracted 538 submissions from 206 financial institutions across 68 countries, with 37 institutions recognized across ten award categories. The selection process combined voting by industry peers with evaluation by an expert jury of 81 senior banking executives.

The award-winning institutions included leading international banking names such as Santander, Commonwealth Bank, DBS, Maybank, and CaixaBank, reflecting the global scope and competitive landscape of the awards.

John Berry, Chairman of Qorus, observed that the banking industry is entering a new era in which AI is becoming integral to innovation, transforming initiatives and expanding the possibilities of financial services.

Building an AI-First Banking Model from the Ground Up

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly central to banking innovation, financial institutions face a growing challenge: translating technological capabilities into better customer experiences, greater operational efficiency, and sustainable business performance.

Cake’s AI-first approach reflects this industry shift while taking a different starting point. Rather than integrating AI into established banking processes, Cake was built as a digital-only bank from the outset, embedding AI, data, and automation into its technology architecture, operating model, and customer journeys.

This greenfield foundation has enabled Cake to develop an integrated AI-first banking model, where technology supports how the bank makes decisions, manages operations, and delivers financial services at scale.

Supported by its independently developed core banking and card management systems, Cake applies AI across the banking value chain, from customer onboarding, credit assessment, and fraud prevention to risk management, customer service, and personalized financial recommendations.

Beyond operational efficiency, Cake has also invested in localized AI capabilities designed specifically for Vietnamese users, enabling more accessible, responsive, and personalized financial experiences.

Scaling Growth with Efficiency and Sustainable Business Performance

Nearly six years since its launch, Cake has grown to serve more than 8 million customers, demonstrating the scalability of its branchless digital banking model.

Cake achieved positive EBITDA in Q3 2024, just 3.5 years after launch, marking a significant milestone in demonstrating the viability of its digital-only banking model. The bank subsequently recorded 173% year-on-year revenue growth in 2025, followed by a further 121% growth in 2026, reflecting sustained business momentum as it continues to scale. Meanwhile, average revenue per user (ARPU) increased from USD 12 in 2024 to USD 44 in 2026, highlighting Cake’s ability to generate greater value from its growing customer base.

Beyond customer acquisition, Cake’s growth strategy increasingly focuses on deepening customer relationships and expanding the range of financial needs served through its platform and partner ecosystems. This approach reflects the bank’s evolution toward a mature digital banking model, where scale is complemented by stronger customer engagement, operational efficiency, and long-term business sustainability.

Nguyen Huu Quang, CEO of Cake Digital Bank, said:

“Winning Gold at the Qorus-Infosys Finacle Banking Innovation Awards is a meaningful international recognition of Cake’s AI-first banking model. From the beginning, our ambition has been to build a digital bank that combines technological innovation with sustainable business performance, while making financial services simpler, more accessible, and more relevant to customers. This recognition reinforces our commitment to delivering world-class banking experiences for Vietnamese users and continuing to advance our AI-first capabilities.”

The Gold Award marks another milestone in Cake’s development as a next-generation AI-first digital bank. It also demonstrates how a banking model developed and scaled in an emerging market can deliver meaningful customer and business outcomes, contributing practical perspectives to the global conversation on the future of digital banking.

In September 2026, Cake was also named “Vietnam’s Best Digital Bank” by Euromoney under its Group Level Banking Awards, further recognizing the bank’s progress in strategy, technology, and business performance.

About the Qorus-Infosys Finacle Banking Innovation Awards

The Qorus-Infosys Finacle Banking Innovation Awards are jointly organized by Qorus, a global association for retail financial institutions, and Infosys Finacle, a digital banking solutions provider. Now in their 13th edition, the awards recognize innovative initiatives and banking models that deliver meaningful impact across the global financial services industry.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/cake-digital-bank-wins-gold-at-qorus-infosys-finacle-banking-innovation-awards-2026-302925502.html

SOURCE Cake Digital Bank

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KSAT and Morehead State University Partner to Expand Lunar Communications Infrastructure

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Partnership strengthens the KSAT Lunar Network and supports deep space and lunar exploration

DENVER and MOREHEAD, Ky., Oct. 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT), a leading provider of ground station networks and satellite operations, today announced a strategic partnership with Morehead State University (MSU) to enhance the KSAT Lunar Network, supporting the growing demand for communications and tracking services for deep space and lunar missions.

The partnership leverages MSU Space Science Center’s established deep space communications capabilities, including its 21-meter and 12-meter-class antennas in Morehead, Kentucky, to further increase the KSAT Lunar Network. Together, the partnership enables mission operators to maintain reliable links with spacecraft operating beyond Earth orbit by adding network capacity and resiliency over the Eastern United States.

“Partnering with MSU advances KSAT’s ability to deliver the communications infrastructure required for the accelerated demand for deep space and lunar missions. We are especially thrilled about this partnership as it helps enable science and exploration space missions today, while developing the next-generation workforce to support the long-term development of the U.S. cislunar economy,” said Dan Adams, General Manager of KSAT Inc.

“This partnership reflects our commitment to supporting the future of space exploration through innovation, education, and collaboration,” said Dr. Benjamin K. Malphrus, Executive Director of Space Science Center. “Working with KSAT provides exciting opportunities for our students and researchers while enabling us to contribute directly to the thriving commercial sector.”

KSAT and MSU share a strong commitment and heritage of supporting NASA’s Artemis program, most recently the Artemis II mission, and the broader science and exploration, as well as inspiring the next generation. In addition to expanding KSAT Lunar capabilities, the partnership will create even more opportunities for student involvement and workforce development through KSAT’s internship programs, helping prepare the next generation of engineers and space professionals for careers in the rapidly growing space sector.

About KSAT:

Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT) is the leading commercial provider of Ground Station Services, Earth Observation Services, and Satellite Operations Services. Headquartered in Tromsø, Norway, the company operates the largest commercial satellite ground station network worldwide, including facilities in Svalbard and Antarctica to provide unique southern hemisphere coverage. Through KSAT Inc., KSAT’s U.S. based full-capability subsidiary, KSAT delivers mission-critical infrastructure for customers in government, civil, and commercial space in the United States, as well as the global space industry. 

About MSU:
Morehead State University (MSU) is a comprehensive, regional university located in Appalachian Kentucky in the Daniel Boone National Forest. MSU is known for excellence in STEM fields and pre-professional programs. The Space Science Center is MSU’s Program of Distinction and manages a significant research and development portfolio in small satellite systems, having executed 7 smallsat missions to date. The Center operates a 21-meter ground station and a 12-meter tracking antenna that provides lunar tracking services and smaller aperture ground stations for satellite telecommunications support. The Center also supports innovative undergraduate, graduate and a Doctor of Engineering program in Space Systems Engineering.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ksat-and-morehead-state-university-partner-to-expand-lunar-communications-infrastructure-302925397.html

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